DHS awarded $12.8M for armed guard services in Arkansas, with Superior Protection Services Inc. as the contractor

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,768,451 ($12.8M)

Contractor: Superior Protection Services Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2004-11-16

End Date: 2009-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,749 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.3K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ARMED GUARD SERVICES FOR ARKANSAS.

Place of Performance

Location: LITTLE ROCK, PULASKI County, ARKANSAS, 72201

State: Arkansas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $12.8 million to SUPERIOR PROTECTION SERVICES INC for work described as: ARMED GUARD SERVICES FOR ARKANSAS. Key points: 1. The contract value of $12.8 million over nearly five years suggests a significant need for security services in the region. 2. The fixed-price contract type indicates that the government has a clear understanding of the scope and cost of services. 3. The duration of the contract (1749 days) points to a long-term requirement for these security measures. 4. The award was made via a competitive delivery order, implying some level of market engagement. 5. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests this contract was not specifically targeted to small businesses. 6. The contractor, Superior Protection Services Inc., has secured a substantial award, indicating their capacity to handle large-scale security operations.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific service details or comparable contract data. However, a $12.8 million award over approximately 4.8 years for armed guard services suggests an average annual cost of roughly $2.6 million. This figure needs to be assessed against the number of guards, hours of coverage, and specific security requirements to determine true value for money. The firm fixed-price nature provides cost certainty but could lead to overpayment if the contractor's costs are significantly lower than anticipated.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded as a 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER,' which typically means it was competed among pre-qualified vendors or within a specific contract vehicle. While not a full and open competition, it suggests that multiple vendors had an opportunity to bid. The presence of 4 bids indicates a moderate level of competition, which is generally positive for price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive process, even if limited, helps ensure that taxpayer funds are not unnecessarily inflated due to a lack of market engagement.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations within Arkansas, ensuring secure facilities and personnel. The services delivered include armed guard protection, crucial for maintaining security at sensitive government locations. The geographic impact is focused on Arkansas, supporting federal law enforcement and immigration agency functions within the state. The contract supports the employment of security personnel, contributing to the local workforce in the security sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed service scope makes it difficult to fully assess value for money.
The 'limited' competition level, while better than sole-source, may not have yielded the absolute lowest price.
Firm fixed-price contracts can sometimes lead to contractor windfalls if actual costs are lower than estimated.

Positive Signals

The contract was awarded through a competitive process, indicating some level of market vetting.
The firm fixed-price structure provides budget certainty for the agency.
The long contract duration suggests a stable and ongoing need for these critical security services.

Sector Analysis

Armed guard services fall under the broader security and protective services sector. This sector is characterized by a mix of large, established firms and smaller, specialized providers. Federal spending in this area is driven by the need to protect government assets, personnel, and facilities. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other federal contracts for similar guard services across different agencies and geographic locations, considering factors like guard hours, threat levels, and required qualifications.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it explicitly mention subcontracting goals for small businesses. This suggests that the primary award went to a larger entity, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem may be limited unless the prime contractor actively engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracting officers and program managers. Performance monitoring, quality assurance, and invoice verification are standard oversight mechanisms. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like FPDS, which provide award details. Depending on the nature of the services and potential risks, an Inspector General review could also be initiated.

Related Government Programs

Federal Protective Service Contracts
Department of Homeland Security Security Services
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Security Operations
Armed Guard Services Contracts
State-Specific Security Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if fixed price does not align with actual service delivery needs.
Limited competition may not guarantee the best possible price for taxpayers.
Lack of detailed service scope makes value assessment difficult.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $12.8 million to SUPERIOR PROTECTION SERVICES INC. ARMED GUARD SERVICES FOR ARKANSAS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SUPERIOR PROTECTION SERVICES INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-11-16. End: 2009-08-31.

What specific security threats or requirements necessitated this level of armed guard spending in Arkansas?

The provided data does not detail the specific security threats or requirements that led to this $12.8 million award for armed guard services in Arkansas. However, given the contracting agency is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the services likely pertain to the protection of ICE facilities, detention centers, transportation operations, or other sensitive sites critical to immigration enforcement and border security operations within the state. These could include managing access control, deterring unauthorized entry, responding to security incidents, and ensuring the safety of personnel and detainees. The substantial value suggests a continuous, high-level security presence is deemed necessary by ICE for its Arkansas operations.

How does the per-guard cost compare to industry benchmarks for armed security services?

Without specific details on the number of guards, hours of service, and required qualifications (e.g., level of training, clearance), it is impossible to calculate a precise per-guard cost or benchmark it against industry standards. The total contract value of $12.8 million over approximately 4.8 years averages to about $2.67 million per year. If we assume, for illustrative purposes, that this funded 50 guards working full-time, the annual cost per guard would be around $53,400. This figure needs to be contextualized with prevailing wage rates, benefits, overhead, and profit margins for armed security personnel in Arkansas, as well as the specific security protocols and equipment required. A comprehensive analysis would require comparing this to similar ICE contracts or federal contracts for armed guards in comparable regions.

What is the track record of Superior Protection Services Inc. in fulfilling federal contracts of this nature?

The provided data indicates that Superior Protection Services Inc. was awarded this $12.8 million contract by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). To assess their track record, one would need to examine their past performance on federal contracts, particularly those involving armed guard services and similar security functions. This would involve reviewing contract performance reports (CPARs), looking for any history of contract disputes, terminations, or performance issues. A positive track record with DHS or other federal agencies would suggest reliability and capability, while a history of problems would raise concerns about their ability to successfully execute this current award.

What is the historical spending trend for armed guard services by ICE in Arkansas?

The provided data only captures a single contract award for armed guard services to Superior Protection Services Inc. for the period of 2004-2009. To understand historical spending trends by ICE in Arkansas for these services, a broader analysis of federal procurement data (e.g., FPDS) would be necessary. This would involve querying for all contracts awarded by ICE (and potentially other DHS components) for armed guard services within the state of Arkansas over multiple fiscal years. Examining this data would reveal whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained relatively stable, and identify other contractors that have been awarded similar services, providing context for the $12.8 million award to Superior Protection Services Inc.

How does the 'competitive delivery order' mechanism impact price discovery compared to full and open competition?

A 'competitive delivery order' typically operates under an existing indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar framework where multiple vendors have already been vetted and awarded spots. While it involves competition among these pre-qualified vendors, it is generally less broad than 'full and open competition,' which allows any eligible responsible source to submit an offer. The competition level for a delivery order depends on how many vendors are eligible and actively participate. If multiple vendors bid, it can lead to good price discovery. However, if the pool of eligible vendors is small or if competition is weak, the price discovery might be less robust than in a full and open competition where a wider range of market participants can vie for the contract.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing › Other Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: P0704FC0004

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1601 WESTPARK DR STE 1A, LITTLE ROCK, AR, 72204

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,589,074

Exercised Options: $17,404,505

Current Obligation: $12,768,451

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS07F0605N

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline